Tea Staining

Although it's hard to give up my pg tips, but decided to use some to stain some linen for a small embroidery I want to start tomorrow.

How to Tea Stain Fabric

Been Doing Some

Christmas Deocorating

AND

Photographing Frosty Sparkles

Truck Window in Yellow Springs, Ohio

well I gotta do SOMETHING

In a bit of a creative flux and with the holidays it's hard to get into any serious work, BUT I just NEEDED to play and paint. There are all these theories about art and when I looked over the list here I thought the closest I came was self expression. However the possibility that someone just enjoys the process for itself often seems overlooked. There's this  meditative quality that comes from a quiet repetative act. That's what I wanted,just to paint for the sake of it.

So here it is so far, a wee piece based on byzantine art. I needed to wear a filter mask when applying the liquid leaf gold paint. Once it's dry I'll sand it down to give it an aged look similar to what I did with this painting below.

"catwalk"

oil on canvas-sold

WHITE! and MORE WHITE!

  I got it into my head I wanted white lace curtains to match the white tree, and white faux fur cushions.  Well, err the local cheapo shops don't sell cheapo lace curtains anymore (too old fashioned I guess), and I couldn't find faux fur cushions anywhere except on uk sites that cost an arm and a leg. Amazon to the rescue and I ordered a yard of faux fur, wheeeeeeeeeeeeee! I was so excited, and THEN I cut it and YIKES, I looked like a duck, covered with fluffy bits from head to toe, what  a MESS. Husband wouldn't let me leave the room until he had hoovered me. WARNING: when working with faux fur wear a hazmat suit and mask.  Oh! but it was all worth it and I got three lovely cuddly soft white cushions for the winter season.

Now just waiting for those lacy curtains to arrive and I'll be all set.

Thoughts of the Day

‎"Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants. ~Kevin James

I just loved this leaf

Thanksgiving: A Native American View

I always wondered how Native Americans must have felt about this holiday when we first came to this country.  I could never be  totally comfortable with it, but yes the concept of being thankful, certainly. 

I am thankful daily for ibuprophen

As for the usual stuff, well hey, I am thankful every single day for many things, and never take it or them for granted.

Will likely play scrabble today and probably rufus will want to be in on it like last time.

Your Documents Please:Traveling Exhibit Ends after 2 years

Was just sent this and what an honor to have my document included in the Flier for the "your documents please" exhibit in Yokohama.

It's been so much fun seeing where it went and the issues the exhibit faced at various customs around the world. As Daniel said; "This show has worked its way around the world. Lugged in luggage to Japan. Hung up in Hungarian customs and haled by the US cultural attache in Bratislava with a grant from the US Embassy. Driven across Europe to Berlin & welcomed in Guadalajara "

Much thanks  to Daniel and Rumi and all those who made this possible.

Amica Magazine

Mr. Monopoly & Twiggy & I Can't Believe I Did That

Mr. Monopoly: The New Face of Corporate Misconduct

Alec Monopoly's Website  and Flickr Page

 I like the scale of the twiggy image in the video.  Here's my humble ode to twiggy on a smaller scale, mixing yarnbombing and spray paint stencil.

Dayton and Walnut Streets in Yellow Springs, Ohio

Barry Lategan talks about the day he took this iconic photograph of twiggy in 1966.

I can't believe I did that.
After all the hours I spent on this I ripped it up.

BUT
 I LIKE it much better. Now I feel it relates to the place where I saw this street art in Ann Arbor Michigan. 

Art Scams: Hello

"I came across your artworks on internet search"

Uh huh!

Like many artists I often get these emails from people seemingly interested in purchasing my art, BUT the spelling is off, the grammar is off and so is the request on how they'll pay.  Check out the samples on Stop Art Scams.

I got this copyright infringement lawsuit claim email at the Chamberpot Gallery addy. It looks like this, and they want you to open the document (contains malicious malware and a virus) that supposedly outlines the case.

Fraud and Scam News

Meanwhile in Jafabrit's Studio

it's a disaster zone.

Not much getting done, ripped my latest embroidery, and crocheting small pieces for the snowflake tree.

Here is a sweet video a jafagalpal (susan) made in it's earlier stages.

We have added more

to our craft bombed, knit graffiti, yarnbombed tree. When the sun hits the sparkles it's magical.

Some of the comments (apart from the "it's beautiful" comments) have been, err, kind of interesting: it looks like a woman tree, it's a victoria secrets tree, it's an underwear tree, it needs a bra.

Maybe I should add a glittery paddle and spank those naughty commentators! 

Shit Not Another Ceiling

Michael Caine by David Bailey

Is a comment in this interview about taking pictures vs making pictures: a video interview with David Bailey. I'm sure some of you will recognize many of his iconic images. Just beautiful and a fab interview! His work is currently showing at Bonhams in London.

 I'm rarely able to MAKE a picture, but this one I took a few years ago I'm proud of. 

jafabrit's daughter

I would have prefered no window and the lighting isn't something I'm skilled at, but I chose the pose and feel it has a classic quality.

Meanwhile I TOOK this photo at the Springfield Ohio Diwali last night.

The Springfield Diwali 2010 really did knock my socks off :) and was an absolute  feast for the senses, indian food, art, music, humour, poetry and dance (mixture of contemporary and classic).

Springfield News Article

Post Exhibit Blues

I'm feeling a bit discombobulated.

I'm glad to find I'm not alone, that this is pretty normal and an issue many artists face.

The Painters Keys: Post Show Blues

 So why am I feeling blue?

 10 Ways to beat post exhibition blues.

 I went through this after my 2007 exhibit and decided I wasn't going to exhibit again. Then I spent a year playing/experimenting, and got so excited about what I was doing I did an exhibit again LOL!

I think another year of

playing

is coming up.

Meanwhile

I wanted white faux furry fluffy cushions, and white lace curtains, that's it.

Alas

The Universe did not deliver them immediately and I realized I will have to get them myself.



Peep of Day

‎" Lo, the peep of day; All the air is cool and still"

BUT

oil on wood

the night was fraught with the sounds of terror and slaughter in the woods.

(I think my neighbours chickens may have been the victims.)

AND

I am tired. I may be a wee bit grumpy today.

Quote by James Montgomery

Not sure and really sure

Not sure I'm liking this embroidery so far. Nearly finished, BUT, hum!!!!! I enjoyed the process, like the stitches, love the colours and shapes, but to be honest as a whole it isn't doing much for me.  Something is missing, maybe I need to balance out the pink circle on the right, or add some text, OR maybe it is just boring.  The piece of wood at the top is a door knocker that it's supposed to hang from.

Will take it to my critique group.

Meanwhile I'm still playing with images of our jafagirl "snowflake tree".

I'm really sure I love the lacy spooky effect of the crochet and laced up pieces. Used adobe photoshop elements, filter, distort and then diffused glow.

The Loo Lost it's View

Chamberpot Gallery Closes

After 4 wonderful years the jafagirls, Nancy and moi,  have officially closed the ChamberPot Gallery in the local Chamber of Commerce Restrooms in Yellow Springs as of November 15^th 2010. We would like to thank all the people involved in making this project happen, the participating artists, the visitors who took joy in it, and the visitors who bought some of the work.

So Commodus is back home.

but

My Knot Tree found a NEW home

thanks Jo.

Night Sparkles

grrrrrrrrrrrrrr, don't you hate it when you do something with a programme on the computer and then forget how you did it. I manipulated two photos of the yarnbombed "snowflake tree" on adobe and really liked them, went and had a cup of tea and by the time I came back forgot how I did it.

Hamster in a Teacup

It took forever to make our pet russian dwarf hamster,Crisy, sit still long enough for me to take a pic. This is back in the day, in the late 80's when I was using film so I had no idea if any of the shots would work out. This one became a poster and hung in the house for years. Crisy is long gone, and biscuit bear, alas came to an ignoble end when my yorkie snuck off with it and gave it "wot" for.

But we still have this lovely poster.

through a lens

I'm not a photographer per se, more of a cataloger, and sometimes I luck out and manage to capture  what I think is a really good image. This is one of my favourites.

 Somehow all the elements came together. A beautiful blue sky, glitttering icicles hanging over one of my fave murals in Keiths Alley by Sarah Dickens.



Marxist Glue Exhibit is Up

Marxist Glue is a Chinese term for wheat paste, the glue used to apply a poster to a wall.

"A new street art show curated by Toks Shoyoye, redefines the Los Angeles community and challenges MOCA." Huffington Post

I love this paintbrush helmet by Nomade

How To Make Wheat Paste

The Sun Shineth Upon Us

I love how the shadow of the branch looks like a bird. I would like to think it a crow but it looks more like a jabiru, which seems fitting since their plumage is pure white.

We were supposed to have snow but instead it was hot. I actually got a bit sunburn on my neck as my Jafapal, Nancy, and I started our newest craft/yarnbombing graffiti in town.

I am hoping it will look magical when the  snow is on the ground and the fairy lights are switched on.

Disclaimer:

No homeless person was deprived because of the yarn used on this tree.

Yakety-Yak

Street Art Inspired Embroidery

long & short stitch on grey linen

It's coming along slowly.

 

Talking About Street Art

This Banksy Inspired Halloween Costume is BRILLIANT 

Retro Corner

Went thrifting and couldn't resist this 50's ornament made made in japan.

Guardian Month in Photography
monthly guide to the 20 best photographic exhibitions and books

There are some beautiful, and compelling images on the slide show.

Leanne Prain Interview,Yarnbombing Moany Bags and copyright hissyfits

Great Radio interview: Leanne Prain Talks Yarn Bombing (Knit Grafitti) and Her Attempted Tag of the FBI Building
"miss, step away from the knitting" LOL

Leanne Prain and Mandy Moore wrote the book Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti, which I am proud to say included little old moi and the jafagirls.

Issues with Yarnbombing 

Someone left a snarky note next to our yarnbombed stones in Yellow Springs about using knitting for the homeless.
sigh!
Please read the facts on what homeless shelters really need here.
OR
Since National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week is Nov 14-20th visit here and make a donation that is really needed instead of griping about us recycling scraps of knitting people donated to us.

Copyright Hall of Shame
Presuming this is true Cooks Source Magazine should KNOW better, but apparently they don't. This may not be an isolated incident. 
How Publishing Really Works


 

Glen Forest Cemetery: Old Headstone

Glen Forest Cemetery

Yellow Springs, Ohio

View Larger Map

Gravestone Symbols

It's hard to make out since it is so worn but the  may be a passion flower (christ's passion), maybe a couple of apples (salvation) or poppies (eternal sleep), and the hand representing pathway to heaven.
I don't see a born date or age, only months, so I am guessing this was a stillborn child.
(would welcome any additional info)

There is one famous interment, Simeon Davison Fess, US Senator from Ohio.

Luna at The Underbelly Project

Street Art Way Below the Street in an abandoned subway station.

Another one of my FAVE photographers on Flickr is Luna Park who was lucky enough to go and see the Underbelly Project. She took some smashing photographs and wrote a great blog entry about it on her The Street Spot site.

All this of course makes my little rabbit sticker seem rather pathetic, BUT hey we don't have any spare subways around our wee village.

"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way"

 

Sketchbook: sgraffito and quotes

I was experimenting a little with sgraffito in preparation for a painting, plus I just enjoyed doing it.

oil on canvas

 It's painted over a copy of a rothko I'd done and I thought the portrait of my pal George would look cool with the colours peeking through.

I'm not really into the artsy fartsy gobbledegook art speak but I was struck by Ernst Gombrich's quote on page 78 in Art & Illusion. "Record a visual experience, not the faithful construction of a relational model". It had a huge impact on me because once I got past the technical skill of drawing relational models (what I saw) then I really had to think about the experience of what I was seeing and how to convey that.

This really came into play when I created this piece.

Hobgoblins

and I wanted to reduce fear to that singular moment of primal anguish, where nothing else exists except your scream.

Creative Urge

People have all these theories about creativity, but all I know is I seem to get these urges lol! Currently one involves a major hand embroidery project, and other a series of black and white paintings on wood. I suppose that's good because while my hand rests from the embroidery I can do some painting. I somehow want to form a relationship between them, just haven't quite figured out how yet.

Meanwhile

Hand exercises seem to be paying off, as is the wee rest. Get my hand splint next week and easing back into short bursts of hand embroidery.

Mayo Clinic Hand Exercise List